水榭雨初晴

    大约两个月前，我在博客上贴出了我翻译的《奥巴马胜选演说·文言版》。稍后，这篇东西在网络上流传开来，并有不少平面媒体选载、报道。

    当时，我在接受一些媒体采访时曾经提到：这篇东西的翻译前后累计只用了大约半天的时间，几个小时而已，十分仓促，很多地方并没来得及仔细推敲，加上我中英文功底都很差劲，所以当时贴出来的译作水平十分低劣——后来网上的一些评论，朋友的一些反馈，也证明了这一点。那篇东西确实问题较多。

    再后来，没过几天，就接到六哥的电话，说要拿去登在《读库》上。
    本来觉得，这样胡闹的东西，不合适拿到那么认真的读物上贻笑大方。但后来想，或许正好是一个修改原文错漏，拨乱反正的机会。
    于是，那篇译文张贴数天之后，我开始认真重新修订《奥巴马胜选演说·文言版》。

    不修订不知道，一认真起来，才发现问题甚至比我原以为的更严重。不得不说，由于第一次翻译时太过仓促，很多词句并未认真研读英文原文，而是轻信了当时流行的几个版本的中文译文，犯了很多低级错误。而文言的词句，也太过草率，问题也很多。我的解决办法是这样的——

1. 英文部分，重新仔细研读原文——包括文本与演讲视频。
2. 搜罗对比网上更多版本的中文白话译文，对照参考。
3. 搜罗网上各路高手对我翻译的文言版提出来的问题，挑出来的毛病，一一核对，辨别，改正。
4. 仍解决不了或者众说纷纭的疑难句子，求教了不少各路翻译高手，争取最精确的理解原文。
5. 文言部分，托熟识的几位文言小能手审读了全篇，让他们帮忙挑毛病，提出修改意见。我根据他们的反馈重新整理全篇文字。
6. 之后，把我整理好的全篇文字交给我信服景仰的一位文言大能手，请他帮助审阅，再根据他老人家的反馈意见重新整理全文。
7. 最后，再重新根据英文斟酌、修改、整理通篇文字。

    这个修订过程断断续续持续了大约两个多星期，所用的时间、精力都远较最初那一遍翻译时为多。因此，下边贴出来的这一版修订后的文言译文，差不多每一段落、每一句话都与此前版本不同。虽然必定仍不完美，但无论是对原文的理解，还是对文言的运用，应该都比最初网上流传的那一版译文靠谱儿得多。

    修订后的译文已被收录入《读库0805》，很多《读库》订户应该已经或即将收到。
感谢在我修订过程中给予帮助的各路英文、文言小能手，包括我直接请教过的各位朋友、师长，也包括在网上各处为最初的那版译文找茬挑毛病的各路高手。谢谢大家。

    以下为修订后的译文——

    !Hello，Chicago
    芝城父老，别来无恙！

    If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
    余尝闻世人有疑，不知当今美利坚凡事皆可成就耶？开国先贤之志犹岿然于世耶？民主之伟力不减于昔年耶？凡此诸疑，今夕当焕然冰释矣。

    It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
    诸疑之释，皆蒙美利坚民众之协力——学塾祠庙之外，市井乡野之间，万千父老焦心若焚，苦待竟日，愿献一票之力。此景此情，前所未见！其中，平生未尝涉国事者，数亦甚夥，乃今有此义举，皆因一念不衰——今夫天下，非同既往，愿发吁天之声，必成动地之势。

    It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and always will be, the United States of America.
    诸疑之释，皆仰吾国万万同胞之齐心——何言贫富老幼之差，党社宗族之异，遑论发肤肌体之别，志趣爱恶之分。吾国既以“合众”为名，吾侪当更无疏离之意，红蓝二党并肩而立，数十邦州挽手相合，无分尔吾，共肇一家也。

    It’s the answer that led those who’ve been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America.
    诸疑既释，则冷彻者可得激情，忧惧者可得勇气，犹疑者可得笃定。平生襟抱，虽屡遭辱没，然值此风云之际，鼎新革故，当仁不让，倾力而动乾坤者，吾侪之外，更何人哉！俟望诚久，其志弥坚。幸天地明察，乃有今日，乃有此刻，乃有此一选举——吾邦之大变革，乃自兹而始！

    A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain. Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he’s fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they’ve achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
    顷接参议员麦君凯恩电，虽未得晤，幸有一谈，其言谆谆，其意诚诚，鄙人感佩甚矣。选战期内，麦君劳碌几重，奔波几许，皆为国家计。夙夜劬心，诸般求索，非余所能及。其于国于民之惊人牺牲，亦诚非庸庸如吾辈者所可想见。以麦君之胆魄襟怀，能为吾邦所用，实国家之幸，万民之幸也。前途漫漫，国事未定，余所盼切由衷者，唯共麦凯恩君、佩林君，及诸贤士比肩，会吾等之绵力，成吾邦之大业。

    I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
    乔君拜登，余所铭感至深者也。竞选之业，艰辛不足与外人道，幸得乔君襄助，乃竟其功。乔君其人，素言恳辞切，意笃情真，盖斯克兰顿乡邻之提命，特拉华州父老之晤教，俱萦怀在心，未尝忘却也。余蒙不弃，叨居总统之位，愿以天下相累，乔君慨然相允，幸何如之！

    And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation’s next first lady Michelle Obama.
    拙荆罗氏，鸿案相庄凡一十六载，既为爱侣，更称挚友，既是吾阖家之基石，又系余毕生之至爱。鄙人尝自忖度，倘无贤妻若此，今朝阔论于斯者，不知何人矣！

    Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the new White House.
    小女萨沙、玛丽，余素深喜之。余尝言，愿购小犬一头相赠，待阖家乔迁总统府邸之日，相携同进吾宅。今当胜负已出，既有一诺在前，必自践行不欺也。

    And while she’s no longer witknow my grandmother’s watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.h us, I
    外祖母大人虽已仙逝，料必有灵在天，俯察人寰，定颔首开颜矣。吾奥巴马氏列祖列宗，亦必如是。今日今时，鄙人追思之心，乌鸟之情，曷其有极！唯生死陌路，仙凡永隔，虽怀反哺之心，而无答报之门也！

  Maya, my sister   To my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you’ve given me. I am grateful to them.
    至若玛雅、艾玛二姊妹并吾家诸同胞，所惠余者，更不胜言，久蒙调护，此当拜谢。

    And , you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best - the best pal campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America. To my chief strategist David Axeloliticrod who’s been a partner with me every step of the way. To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics
    大卫·普劳夫君，大卫·阿克塞罗德君，一为鄙人竞选事务之经理，一为鄙人国事韬略之智囊。余尝自喟叹，左右运筹之士，皆亘古未见之贤才。普阿二君，则更此中翘楚。区区不才，有何德能，可得数公鼎力襄助若此？当此功成之际，感荷之心，亦自拳拳。

    But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.
    至于鄙人铭之肺腑，寤寐不敢忘怀者，诚诸位也。盖今日鄙人之胜绩，实诸位之胜绩，鄙人之荣光，实诸位之荣光！

    I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.
    余素朴陋，虽有参选之心，并无必胜之志。谋事之初，银资乏匮，从者寥寥；起事之地，皆蔽寓荒斋，不在高阁；成事之基，无非寻常百姓，升斗之献。

    It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep. It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth. This is your victory.
    幸得一众热血青年，抛其家，别其室，不辞其苦，不计其酬，矻矻于此，方得今日之胜。“国中青年爱国之心已泯”之谬论，今可休矣！幸有壮志未已之诸前辈，无惧寒暑，行走奔波，劝说民众，乃竟今日之功。今日之胜，诚数百万美利坚民众之胜也。察其意，皆属踊跃为国，观其行，处处谨严有序，足堪告慰二百年前开国之先贤——民有、民治、民享之政体，未尝动摇也！嗟夫！此实诸位之功也！

    And I know you didn’t do this just to win an election. And I know you didn’t do it for me.You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.
    余知诸君之意非在此一选战，亦非在鄙人一身。盖瞻前路之艰辛，而益知此任不可轻许也。虽今夕欢贺于此，而明朝酒醒，大患仍自当前。两地烽烟熊熊而起，四海之内纷纷而乱，金融业界惶惶而危，皆不容有怠。

    Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage or pay their doctors’ bills or save enough for their child’s college education. There’s new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.
    是夜，歌吹饮宴之声不绝于耳，而异邦大漠群山中，吾国大好青年，兀自苦戍边塞，惝恍竟夜，性命尚未得安。吾国千万庶民，为人父母者，兀自惴惴难眠，所忧者，乃房宅所贷，病患之费，抚育之资也。至若吾国能源之耗，百业之兴，庠序之教，攻伐之术，怀远之道，亦皆吾等忡忡挂怀者也。

    The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there.
    渺渺乎其远，如不可达；危危乎其高，若不可攀。伟业宏图，可一蹴而就耶？余不揣愚钝，愿以四载相期，付诸此业，胜算何如虽不可知，然昂扬必胜之奇志，成就伟业之壮怀，平生未之有也。君子一诺，其重何如，此地今夕，愿斗胆发一狂言——吾辈既在，其事必成！

    There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
    逶迤坎坷，份内之事。异见争端，料必有之。国中之政府，亦非全知全能者。余所秉承不移者，唯忠信耳。倘有危难于前，必无欺瞒于世。诸君言论臧否，纵与余意相左，必当洗耳以聆。于此之外，更当恳请诸君，同心戮力，共继吾国既肇二百二十一年之大统，汇涓滴之力，而成万世之业。

    What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It can’t happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.
    前岁冬日，余立志于斯，投身此业，屈指算来，倏然近二载矣。当此秋夜，追思反省，更生惕厉。选战之胜，无非一役之功，吾辈矢志所求者，非在乎此。此役之胜，亦无非革世变时之一大好良机耳。设若止步于斯，垂手而待，或无诸君倾力相援，则壮志丰功，无非泡影，诸般梦想，终归虚妄。

    So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other. Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people.
    爱国之心，报国之念，吾人固有之。今吾辈各竭其力，各尽其命，各执己业之外，益当守望相助，而更期普世之荣。当是时也，金融浩劫，四海凶危，鉴之查之，其理自明——寻常商贾既损，金融巨擘焉得独全乎？由是可知，邦域之内，吾辈荣辱休戚，皆相与共矣！

    Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let’s remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity. Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.
    党争纷纭，锱铢必较，轻狂懵懂，皆腐坏人心惑乱政局之弊也，其来已久，余今愿与诸君协力，共灭除之。昔年曾有此郡先贤，首执共和党之帜，而掌总统府之权。自强独立，自由统一等信念，皆彼党之所倡，亦吾辈之所宗。今岁选战，吾民主党人幸有一胜，然谦恭和合之心未尝少减。

 As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.   
    余素信服者，乃山河破碎之际，总统林肯氏之言——“既属同胞，终不为敌。虽弩张剑拔，而血脉未尝断，情义不少减。”固然，仍有四方志士，不为鄙人所动，另有高明之选。虽悭一票之缘，然诸君谠论，余亦声声在耳，字字在心。来日方长，大雅诸君，幸垂教焉！余虽忝列总统之位，必不另眼以待也。

    And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.
    寰宇民众，散居四海，虽各安其命，而兴衰安危相系，今吾一邦之重兴既见锋芒，则天下之峥嵘必不远矣！

    To those - to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
    至若如虺如蛇，与世为敌者，吾邦猛志常在，彼等必取灭亡。而温良恭俭，久慕大同者，吾辈则当倾力以助，鼎力相援。犹疑未定，于吾邦之伟力未之信者，吾侪愿以今日盛况以告之——美利坚之所谓“美”者，非刀兵之强，金银之众，实民主、自由、机遇、梦想之美也！

    That’s the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we’ve already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
天自有道，地自有德，恩赋吾邦无上异禀。无他，达时知变而已矣。美利坚隆替不衰，合众国日趋至善。以过往先贤之伟绩，助吾侪今日之雄心，开子孙万世之辉光！

    This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight’s about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
    今岁选战，多开亘古之先，屡传千秋佳话。感我至深者，亚特兰大老妪安•尼克松·库帕也——库氏一票，自与数百万美利坚民众之选票无异，其所以称奇者，在其百岁高龄有奇也。

    She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
    当其父辈之时，天道不彰，黑人为奴。库氏其生也不逢时，汽车尚不行于道，飞机犹未起于空，库氏既属黑人，又系妇道，票选一事，不得问焉。

    And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
    今夕此地，回溯库氏百岁之涯，但见吾邦先贤屡败屡战，且退且进，悲欣交集，甘苦杂陈。幸而正道存焉，壮志存焉，曰：吾辈既在，无所不能。

    At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
    万马齐喑，其事堪哀，吾邦女界怒而起，愤而争，苦战不歇，历数十载。幸哉库氏，以百岁之高龄，终得亲见女流自立于世，重获天赋之权–吾辈既在，无所不能！

    When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
    当其壮岁，库氏曾见黄埃蔽日，百业萧条。举国悲鸣之际，吾美利坚出旷世之新政，挽狂澜于既倒，扶大厦之将倾，退畏惧之心，扶奋勇之志，终至人各有位，民心乃安——吾辈既在，无所不能！

    When the bombs fell on our. harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved Yes we can.
    当吾国良港遭袭，天下桀纣当道，暴政肆虐之时，库氏曾见豪杰群起，民主不亡——吾辈既在，无所不能！

   Montgomery,  She was there for the buses in , a bridge in the hoses in BirminghamSelma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.
    峥嵘岁月，民权勃兴，蒙哥马利公车罢辍，伯明翰城黑人群起，塞尔玛城血雨腥风，库氏般般曾历。更尝闻亚特兰大城大贤马丁·路德·金氏振臂登高之呼——“吾等必胜！”诚哉斯言！吾辈既在，无所不能！

    A . And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination
    俟科学昌明于世，创想通贯一时，既登广寒之阙，又溃柏林之垣。洋洋乎！有百年如是，乃见今岁选战中，库氏之一票。浩浩乎！百有六载交锋更迭，方得美利坚今日之变革——吾辈既在，无所不能！

    America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
    陵谷变迁，俱往矣！追昔抚今，敢不勉哉！再俟百年光阴，倘吾等后辈儿孙，亦有得享高寿如库氏者，复可见何等之世界？吾侪今日之功，他年可得而见之乎？

    This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.
    所谓时运天命，莫过于此——当为吾邦万民造安身立命之业，为吾辈儿孙启各展雄才之门，为寰宇各国创太平靖晏之世，为吾等壮志赋千秋不灭之元神。吾邦立国之本，必将光耀于天下——万千同胞，当如一人，一息尚存，壮怀不已！纵有世人疑焉，吾辈亦当以千秋不易之训共答之曰：吾辈既在，无所不能！

    Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
    拜谢诸君！愿天佑吾民，天佑吾邦！

    [完]

译者注：
1. 本篇中的英文原文系奥巴马（Barack Hussein Obama II）当选美国总统后于2008年11月4日晚在芝加哥发表的获胜演说。
2. 文言译本只是游戏之作，并非严谨的翻译。因此，很多语句、段落有基于原文的发挥、演绎，乃至各种添油加醋。
3. 译文采用浅近的文言体，偶有白话间杂。一些辞句语气有意戏仿民国时军政要人的演说、通电之类。
4. 个别词句有意”歪译”了一下，如”麦君凯恩”、”乔君拜登”等混淆姓、名的称谓。
5. 文中提到的”拙荆罗氏”是指奥巴马之妻Michelle Obama。因Michelle Obama原姓Robinson，故此处译为”罗氏”。